Burton considers rule requiring licenses for cats

BURTON -- The stray cat strut could be a less frequent sight in Burton if an idea to license felines becomes a reality.

Councilman Danny Wells said he will suggest a committee meeting be held next week to hash out the proposal.

Wells said money from licensing fees would perhaps help the city deal with a stray cat problem that's getting out of control.

"The neighbors are just going crazy," said Wells, who has heard of at least four neighborhoods struggling with stray cat problems.

"It's about time somebody did something about these damn cats," said Tony Mose of Brady Avenue, who lives across the street from an abandoned house where cats have been getting into an open basement.

Wells said the problem has ballooned since the housing market tanked, with stray cats hanging out in abandoned homes. Wells said people move and leave their cats behind.

Wells said not only would more people vaccinate and neuter their cats, but the city could also hire someone to trap stray cats if it had a licensing requirement.

Councilman Jeff Major said he's convinced it needs to be done.

"We need to license them and treat them just like dogs. It's an epidemic as far as I'm concerned," Major said.

Residents interviewed on Brady Avenue said they're exasperated with the strays.

While none were visible Monday afternoon, Mose said many roam the streets at night.

Resident Mickey Wines said he wouldn't mind paying a modest fee to license his two cats. He said many people don't take care of theirs.

"People like them when they're kitties, but not so much when they're older," Wines said.

Brian McKenzie, environmental health supervisor at the Genesee County Health Department, said normally the agency wouldn't respond to reports of cats hanging out in an abandoned house, unless it could be proven that they created a public health hazard to neighbors.

And Lloyd Gerhardt, Genesee County Animal Control's chief officer, said typically the county does not trap stray cats. He said he is not aware of any governmental entity in Genesee County that requires feline licenses.